Duplex pressure transducers

ABSTRACT

A transducer baseplate includes a base, a protrusion extending from the base along a longitudinal axis, a pair of opposed transducer receptacles defined within the protrusion, and respective pressure plena. The pressure plena are separated by a plenum wall, each plenum being in fluid connection with an area external to the protrusion through a respective pressure line. The pressure lines provide a direct fluid path to their respective receptacles.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/189,899, filed on Feb. 25, 2014, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/890,935 filed Oct. 15, 2013, bothof which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to differential pressure transducers, andmore particularly to high temperature duplex pressure transducers.

2. Description of Related Art

Differential pressure measurements can be accomplished by a differentialpressure transducer which provides an output that is the differencebetween two pressures. In the case of the absolute pressure transducer,the output is truly indicative of monitored pressure, e.g. relative to avacuum. A duplex differential pressure transducer traditionally has twoseparate absolute pressure capsules to measure differential pressureacross a medium such as, for example, an oil filter. The monitoredabsolute pressure output from each pressure capsule is compared todetermine the pressure difference between an inlet side and an outletside of the oil filter.

Generally, traditional duplex pressure transducers must meet certainaccuracy and size requirements. Larger pressure capsules increasepressure measurement accuracy. But, on the other hand, duplex pressuretransducers are generally found in confined areas where space andclearance are critical, making dimension requirements and size highpriority considerations. Duplex pressure transducers generally house thepressure capsules in a side-by-side horizontal arrangement.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been consideredsatisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a needin the art for duplex pressure transducers that allow for improvedaccuracy while still conforming to envelope size restrictions. Therealso remains a need in the art for such duplex pressure transducers thatare easy to make and use. The present disclosure provides a solution forthese problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A transducer baseplate includes a base with a protrusion extending fromthe base along a longitudinal axis, a pair of opposed transducerreceptacles defined within the protrusion, and a pair of respectivepressure plena. The pressure plena are separated by a plenum wall, oneplenum in fluid communication with each receptacle, respectively, andeach plenum being in fluid connection with an area external to theprotrusion through a respective pressure line. The pressure linesprovide a direct fluid path to their respective receptacles.

In certain embodiments, the receptacles each have a cross-sectionalshape and the base has a cross-sectional perimeter in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The combined cross-sectionalshapes of the receptacles are too large to fit within thecross-sectional perimeter of the base. The pressure lines can also eachhave a cross-sectional shape. The combined cross-sectional shapes of onepressure line and of one receptacle are too large to fit within thecross-sectional perimeter of the base.

In accordance with certain embodiments, the receptacles can havecircular cross-sections and each can have a receptacle diameter in aplane aligned with the longitudinal axis. The base and pressure linescan also have circular cross-sections. The base can have a base diameterin a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis where the combinedreceptacle diameters are greater than the base diameter.

It is contemplated that the receptacles can be configured to eachreceive a separate high temperature pressure capsule. In addition, theprotrusion can also include an end surface configured to securecircuitry. The transducer baseplate can also include a mounting flangebelow the base with respect to the longitudinal axis. The pressure linescan define a channel through the mounting flange, through the base, andthrough the protrusion to provide a direct fluid path to theirrespective receptacles. The mounting flange can have sealing socketsdefined proximate to respective first ends of the pressure lines. Thesealing sockets can be configured to receive seals. Further, thetransducer baseplate is configured to withstand temperatures from −55 to205 degrees Celsius (218.15 to 478.15 degrees Kelvin), and pressuresfrom 2 to 800 psi (13.9 kPa to 5.52 MPa) while still maintaining lessthan ±1% error.

A duplex pressure transducer includes a transducer baseplate asdescribed above, a separate high temperature pressure capsule secured ineach receptacle, circuitry, and a transducer housing. The circuitry isoperatively connected to an end surface of the protrusion each inelectronic communication with a separate high temperature pressurecapsules. The transducer housing is sealed over at least the transducerreceptacles, high temperature pressure capsules, and circuitry. Thecircuitry can include a pair of opposing circuit boards. The circuitboards each can be configured to receive pressure readings from theirrespective separate high temperature pressure capsules.

In accordance with certain embodiments, the high temperature pressurecapsules can be spaced away from the transducer housing such that thereis clearance for at least one electrical cable each between the hightemperature pressure capsules and the transducer housing. The transducerhousing can be affixed to the baseplate by weld joints located on thebase, and can include a port configured to receive electricalconnectors. The transducer housing and weld joints can be configured towithstand burst pressures of up to 2540 psi (17.51 MPa).

It is contemplated that the transducer baseplate, high temperaturepressure capsules, circuitry and transducer housing can be configured towithstand temperatures from −55 to 205 degrees Celsius (218.15 to 478.15degrees Kelvin) and pressures from 2 to 800 psi (13.9 kPa to 5.52 MPa)while still maintaining less than ±1% error.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subjectdisclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the artfrom the following detailed description of the preferred embodimentstaken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosureappertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices andmethods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation,preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein belowwith reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a transducerbaseplate constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showinga mounting flange, a base, a protrusion and receptacles;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side-elevation view of the transducerbaseplate of FIG. 1, showing the receptacles with high temperaturepressure capsules, respective pressure plena, pressure lines and sealingsockets;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a duplexpressure transducer constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure, showing a transducer housing partially sealed over thetransducer baseplate of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the duplex pressuretransducer of FIG. 3, showing the transducer baseplate of FIG. 1 withhigh temperature pressure capsules and circuit boards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like referencenumerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subjectdisclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and notlimitation, a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of atransducer baseplate constructed in accordance with the presentdisclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by referencecharacter 100. Other embodiments of a transducer baseplate constructedin accordance with the present disclosure, or aspects thereof, areprovided in FIGS. 2-4, as will be described.

In reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a transducer baseplate 100 includes abase 102, a protrusion 104 extending from base 102 along a longitudinalaxis A, a pair of opposed transducer receptacles 106 defined withinprotrusion 104, and pressure plena 108 associated with each receptacle106. Protrusion 104 has an end surface 114. Transducer baseplate 100also includes a mounting flange 118. Mounting flange 118 is below base102 with respect to longitudinal axis A, as oriented in FIG. 1. Mountingflange 118 has sealing sockets 120 defined proximate to respective firstends 113 of pressure lines 112. Sealing sockets 120 are configured toreceive seals (not shown). Those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that a variety of seals can be used, such as, o-ring seals.

Pressure plena 108 are separated by a plenum wall 110, each plenum 108being in fluid connection with an area external to protrusion 104through a respective pressure line 112. Pressure lines 112 provide adirect fluid path to their respective receptacles 106. Transducerbaseplate 100 is configured to withstand temperatures from −55 to 205degrees Celsius (218.15 to 478.15 degrees Kelvin), and pressures from 2to 800 psi (13.9 kPa to 5.52 MPa) while still maintaining less than ±1%error. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thetemperature and pressure ranges listed above are working temperaturesand pressures for maintaining less than ±1% error and that baseplate 100can be configured to withstand higher temperatures and pressures.

Now with reference to FIG. 2, each receptacle 106 is configured toreceive a separate high temperature pressure capsule 115. Pressure lines112 each define a channel through mounting flange 118, through base 102,and through protrusion 104 to provide a direct fluid path to theirrespective receptacles 106. Receptacles 106 each have a cross-sectionalshape B, and base 102 has a cross-sectional perimeter C, in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. Combined cross-sectionalshapes B are too large to fit non-overlappingly within cross-sectionalperimeter C of base 102. In another aspect, each receptacle 106 has areceptacle diameter E in a plane parallel to longitudinal axis A. Base102 has a base diameter F in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis A. The combined receptacle diameters E are greater than basediameter F.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that, high temperaturepressure capsules 115 do not fit inside the transducer housing in a sideby side arrangement, i.e. where each receptacle diameter E is alignedperpendicular to longitudinal axis A. Instead, a vertical configurationof high temperature pressure capsules 115, i.e. with each receptaclediameter E aligned parallel to longitudinal axis A, is used to create atransducer that accommodates larger capsules than traditionalconfigurations, therein making the transducer more accurate. Further,those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that while shownsubstantially in cylindrical shapes, high temperature pressure capsules115 and receptacles 106, can be of any suitable shape.

Now with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, another exemplary embodiment isshown, namely a duplex pressure transducer 200. Duplex pressuretransducer 200 includes a transducer baseplate 100 as described above, aseparate high temperature pressure capsule 115 secured in eachreceptacle 106, circuitry 116, and a transducer housing 122. Circuitry116, shown as a pair of opposing circuit boards, are operativelyconnected to end surface 114 of protrusion 104 each in electroniccommunication with separate high temperature pressure capsules 115. Eachcircuit board 116 is configured to receive pressure readings from theirrespective separate high temperature pressure capsules 115. Thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that high temperaturepressure capsules 115 are spaced away from transducer housing 122 suchthat there is clearance for at least one electrical cable each, shownschematically, between high temperature pressure capsules 115 andtransducer housing 122.

Now with reference to FIG. 4, transducer housing 122 is hermeticallysealed over at least transducer receptacles 106, high temperaturepressure capsules 115, and circuit boards 116. Transducer housing 122 isaffixed to the baseplate 100 by weld joints 124 located on base 102.Further, transducer housing 122 includes a port 126 configured toreceive electrical connectors 128, shown schematically. Those skilled inthe art will readily appreciate that while one port 126 is shown, anysuitable number of ports can be defined in the transducer housing 122for a given application. The thickness and material of transducerhousing 122 and weld joints 124 is configured to withstand burstpressures of up to 2540 psi (17.51 MPa).

Those having skill in the art will readily appreciate that duplexpressure transducer 200 uses separate high temperature pressure capsules115 to measure differential pressure across a medium, such as an oilfilter. Duplex pressure transducer 200 is designed to have less than ±1%error over the operating ranges of −55 to 205 degrees Celsius (218.15 to478.15 degrees Kelvin) and 2 to 800 psi (13.9 kPa to 5.52 MPa). Toachieve such accuracy under these high pressure and temperatureconditions, one having skill in the art will readily appreciate that thesize of the high temperature pressure capsules 115 may need to increase.As such, duplex pressure transducer 200 is configured to allow for alarger capsule, without sacrificing size or pressure and temperaturecapacity. The vertical transducer baseplate 100 configuration for thehigh temperature pressure capsules 115, as described above, allows forincreased accuracy by tolerating a larger capsule, without sacrificingduplex pressure transducer size, or pressure and temperature capacity.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described aboveand shown in the drawings, provide for a duplex transducer baseplate andduplex pressure transducer with superior properties including increasedaccuracy, small size and high pressure and temperature tolerance. Whilethe apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown anddescribed with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in theart will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subjectdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transducer baseplate comprising: a base with aprotrusion extending from the base along a longitudinal axis; a pair oftransducer receptacles defined within the protrusion, wherein thetransducer receptacles are opposed from one another across thelongitudinal axis, wherein the transducer receptacles are in fluid andoperational isolation from one another; and a pair of pressure plenaseparated by a plenum wall, one plenum in fluid communication with eachreceptacle, respectively, wherein the pressure plena are in fluid andoperational isolation from one another within the protrusion, whereineach plenum is in fluid connection with an area external to theprotrusion through a respective pressure line, and wherein the pressurelines are at an oblique angle with respect to one another and provide adirect fluid path to their respective receptacles.
 2. A transducerbaseplate as recited in claim 1, wherein the receptacles each have awidth parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the combined widthsof the receptacles, when oriented in a common plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, are too large to fit within the cross-sectionalperimeter of the base.
 3. A transducer baseplate as recited in claim 1,wherein the receptacles each have a receptacle diameter in a planealigned with the longitudinal axis.
 4. A transducer baseplate as recitedin claim 3, wherein the base has a base diameter in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the combinedreceptacle diameters are greater than the base diameter.
 5. A transducerbaseplate as recited in claim 1, wherein the transducer receptacles areeach configured to each receive a separate high temperature pressurecapsule.
 6. A transducer baseplate as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising a mounting flange below the base with respect to thelongitudinal axis, wherein the pressure lines define a channel throughthe mounting flange, through the base, and through the protrusion toprovide a direct fluid path to their respective receptacles.
 7. Atransducer baseplate as recited in claim 6, wherein the mounting flangeincludes sealing sockets defined proximate to respective first ends ofthe pressure lines, wherein the sealing sockets can be configured toreceive seals.
 8. A transducer baseplate as recited in claim 1, whereinthe pressure lines converge toward one another in a direction towardtheir respective plena.
 9. A duplex pressure transducer comprising: atransducer baseplate including: a base with a protrusion extending fromthe base along a longitudinal axis; a pair of transducer receptaclesdefined within the protrusion, wherein the transducer receptacles areopposed from one another across the longitudinal axis, wherein thetransducer receptacles are in fluid and operational isolation from oneanother; and a pair of pressure plena separated by a plenum wall,wherein one plenum is in fluid communication with each receptacle,respectively, and each plenum is in fluid connection with an areaexternal to the protrusion through a respective pressure line, whereinthe pressure lines are at an oblique angle with respect to one anotherand provide a direct fluid path to their respective receptacles; aseparate high temperature absolute pressure capsule secured in eachreceptacle, wherein the high temperature absolute pressure capsules arefluidly isolated from one another; circuitry operatively connected to anend surface of the protrusion each in electronic communication with aseparate high temperature pressure capsule; and a transducer housingsealed over at least the transducer receptacles, high temperaturepressure capsules, and circuitry.
 10. A duplex pressure transducer asrecited in claim 9, wherein the receptacles each have a width parallelto the longitudinal axis, and wherein the combined widths of thereceptacles, when oriented in a common plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, are too large to fit within the cross-sectionalperimeter of the base.
 11. A duplex pressure transducer as recited inclaim 9, wherein the receptacles each have a receptacle diameter in aplane aligned with the longitudinal axis.
 12. A duplex pressuretransducer as recited in claim 11, wherein the base has a base diameterin a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein thecombined receptacle diameters are greater than the base diameter.
 13. Aduplex pressure transducer as recited in claim 9, wherein the transducerhousing is affixed to the transducer baseplate by weld joints located onthe base.
 14. A duplex pressure transducer as recited in claim 9,wherein the transducer housing comprises a port configured to receiveelectrical connectors.
 15. A duplex pressure transducer as recited inclaim 9, wherein the circuitry includes a pair of opposing circuitboards, wherein the circuit boards are each configured to receivepressure readings from their respective separate high temperaturepressure capsules.
 16. A duplex pressure transducer as recited in claim9, wherein the high temperature pressure capsules are spaced away fromthe transducer housing such that there is clearance for at least oneelectrical cable each between the high temperature pressure capsules andthe transducer housing.
 17. A duplex pressure transducer as recited inclaim 9, wherein the pressure lines converge toward one another in adirection toward their respective plena.
 18. A transducer baseplatecomprising: a base with a protrusion extending from the base along alongitudinal axis; a pair of transducer receptacles defined within theprotrusion, wherein the transducer receptacles are opposed from oneanother across the longitudinal axis, wherein the transducer receptaclesare in fluid and operational isolation from one another; and a pair ofpressure plena separated by a plenum wall, one plenum in fluidcommunication with each receptacle, respectively, wherein the pressureplena are in fluid and operational isolation from one another within theprotrusion, wherein each plenum is in fluid connection with an areaexternal to the protrusion through a respective pressure line, andwherein the pressure lines provide a direct fluid path to theirrespective receptacles.